Meteorology and the Atmosphere Lecture Notes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of meteorology, atmospheric structure, ISA standards, wind types, cloud classifications, and precipitation forms as presented in the lecture notes.

Meteorology

The branch of science that studies the atmosphere and the physical processes that occur within it.

Climatology

The study and evolution of climate over the long term in order to develop specific models of atmospheric behavior.

Meteoro (Meteor)

A non-permanent natural phenomenon occurring in the atmosphere consisting of precipitation, suspension, or deposit of particles, or optical/electrical manifestations.

Weather (Tiempo Atmosférico)

The atmospheric conditions present at a specific time and place, which are changing and practically unrepeatable.

Climate

The average of the weather conditions of a certain place or region over time.

Aeronautical Meteorology

A branch of meteorology focused on the study of atmospheric phenomena that directly affect aircraft operations.

WMO (OMM)

World Meteorological Organization; a UN entity that promotes international cooperation, standardization of observations, and exchange of meteorological information.

ICAO Annex 3

The technical annex of the International Civil Aviation Organization dedicated to meteorological services for international air navigation.

Atmosphere

A homogeneous gaseous layer surrounding a planet or celestial body held in place by gravity.

Atmospheric Composition (Homospheric)

The main gases are Nitrogen ($78.08\%$), Oxygen ($20.94\%$), Water Vapor ($1\%$ to $4\%$ at the surface), and Argon ($0.93\%$).

Troposphere

The initial layer of the atmosphere containing $95\%$ of the air mass, reaching approximately $11\,km$ (variable altitude). This is where meteorological phenomena occur.

Stratosphere

The layer extending from approx $10\,km$ to $50\,km$, containing the ozone layer (ozonosphere).

Mesosphere

The atmospheric layer extending from $50\,km$ to $80\,km$ where meteors typically disintegrate.

Thermosphere

The layer extending from $80\,km$ to $500\,km$ where auroras occur and the International Space Station orbits.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere, reaching up to $10,000\,km$ from the surface.

ISA (International Standard Atmosphere)

An atmospheric model adopted as a universal reference frame with standard values of pressure, temperature, density, and viscosity with height.

ISA Sea Level Temperature

Assumed to be $15^\circ\text{C}$ ($59^\circ\text{F}$).

ISA Sea Level Pressure

Assumed to be $29.92\,\text{InHg}$ or $1013.25\,\text{hPa}$.

Standard Temperature Lapse Rate

A decrease of approximately $1.98^\circ\text{C}$ (or $2^\circ\text{C}$ per $1000\,ft$) up to the tropopause.

Standard Pressure Lapse Rate

A decrease of approximately $1\,\text{InHg}$ per $1000\,ft$ or $1\,\text{hPa}$ per $30\,ft$.

Tropopause

The ISA transition zone located at $36,089\,ft$ ($11\,km$) where temperature is assumed to remain constant at $-56.5^\circ\text{C}$.

Height (Altura)

The vertical distance between a level, point, or object and a specified reference.

Altitude

The vertical distance between a level, point, or object and Mean Sea Level (MSL).

Elevation

The vertical distance between a point or level on the Earth's surface and Mean Sea Level (MSL).

Indicated Altitude

The altitude read directly from the altimeter when set to the current altimeter setting (QNH).

Pressure Altitude

The altitude indicated when the altimeter's barometric scale is set to $29.92\,\text{InHg}$ ($1013.2\,\text{hPa}$).

Density Altitude

Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature variations; it is used to calculate aircraft performance.

Flight Level (FL)

The altitude at which an aircraft flies calculated with respect to the standard isobar of $29.92\,\text{InHg}$.

Atmospheric Pressure

The force exerted by the weight of the air column in the atmosphere on the Earth's surface, calculated as $P = \frac{F}{A}$.

Barometer

An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure; types include mercury barometers and aneroid (mercury-free) barometers.

Heat (Calor)

The transfer of thermal energy between bodies or zones at different temperatures.

Conduction

Heat transfer produced by direct thermal contact between the particles of bodies at different temperatures.

Convection

Heat transfer occurring in fluids (liquids or gases) through the movement of fluid volumes between regions of different temperatures.

Radiation

Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves, involving a transformation from thermal to radiant energy and back.

Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula

$$^\circ\text{F} = (^\circ\text{C} \times 1.8) + 32$$

Fahrenheit to Celsius Formula

$$^\circ\text{C} = \frac{^\circ\text{F} - 32}{1.8}$$

Wind (Viento)

Air in motion. Horizontal movement is called advection, while vertical movement is called convection.

Anemometer

An instrument used to measure the velocity or force of the wind.

Wind Vane (Veleta)

An instrument used to determine the direction from which the wind is blowing.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deviation of moving objects (vessels, air, aircraft) caused by the Earth's rotation, resulting in a rightward deviation in the Northern Hemisphere and a leftward deviation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Catabatic Wind

Winds that descend from heights into valley bottoms produced by gravity as cold, dense air slides down terrain.

Anabatic Wind

Winds that ascend from lower zones to higher zones as the sun heats the terrain.

Trade Winds (Alisios)

Relatively constant planetary winds blowing from subtropical high pressure towards equatorial low pressure, deviated to the west by the Coriolis effect.

Humidity

The amount or presence of water vapor contained in the air.

Relative Humidity (RH)

The amount of water vapor in the air expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount the air can contain at a specific temperature.

Dew Point (Punto de Rocío)

The temperature to which a parcel of air must be cooled to become saturated and for condensation to occur.

Visibility

The maximum distance at which non-illuminated objects (day) or illuminated objects (night) can be distinguished.

Cloud (Nube)

A visible collection of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

Octas

A unit of measurement for sky coverage, where the celestial dome is divided into 8 equal parts.

FEW (Escasas)

Sky coverage of $1/8$ to $2/8$ octas.

SCT (Scattered / Dispersas)

Sky coverage of $3/8$ to $4/8$ octas.

BKN (Broken / Fragmentadas)

Sky coverage of $5/8$ to $7/8$ octas.

OVC (Overcast / Cielo Cubierto)

Sky coverage of $8/8$ octas.

High Clouds

Clouds with bases between $20,000\,ft$ and $60,000\,ft$ (in tropics) composed of ice crystals, including Cirrus (Ci), Cirrostratus (Cs), and Cirrocumulus (Cc).

Middle Clouds

Clouds with bases between $6,500\,ft$ and $25,000\,ft$ (in tropics) composed of water droplets or ice crystals, including Altocumulus (Ac) and Altostratus (As).

Low Clouds

Clouds with bases from surface to $6,500\,ft$ including Stratus (St), Stratocumulus (Sc), and Nimbostratus (Ns).

Cumulonimbus (CB)

Large clouds of vertical development associated with extreme instability, severe turbulence, icing, electrical discharges, and heavy precipitation.

Virga

Precipitation that evaporates or sublimes before reaching the Earth's surface, often creating dangerous downdrafts (microbursts).

Turbulence

The atmospheric phenomenon occurring when there is a change in the flow of air.

Wind Shear (Cizalladura)

A sudden change in wind speed and/or direction occurring at any level of the atmosphere.

Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)

Turbulence not associated with clouds, typically generated when two air currents of different speeds meet at high altitudes.

Precipitation

Water in liquid or solid state (or a combination) falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Rain (Lluvia)

Precipitation of liquid water droplets larger than $0.5\,mm$.

Drizzle (Llovizna)

Precipitation of liquid water droplets smaller than $0.5\,mm$.

Hail (Granizo)

Precipitation of solid ice pieces larger than $5\,mm$, typically associated with cumulonimbus clouds.

Freezing Rain (Lluvia Engelante)

Precipitation of supercooled liquid droplets that freeze instantly upon impact with an exposed object.

Pluviometer (Pluviómetro)

An instrument used to measure the amount of liquid precipitation in millimeters ($1\,mm = 1\,L/m^2$).

Shower (Chubasco)

Precipitation associated with unstable conditions and vertical development clouds, starting and ending abruptly with variable intensity.